London’s ultra-low emissions zone has been extended making it 18 times larger than before, with campaigners saying it'll help clean the air for pedestrians.
It’s one of the largest pollution charging schemes in the world and other British cities are taking note, with the principle “the polluter pays".
Mums for Lungs volunteer Celeste Hicks told the BBC she’s frustrated.
One in 12 cars sold this year there were battery powered. (Source: Other)
“It’s not my pollution the children are breathing in, it’s other people driving past in their cars and the fact that my children have to walk down those roads to get to school, they have to breath in that pollution, they have no choice, and we have no way to stop it.”
If a vehicle runs on diesel and it was made before September 2015, or if it uses petrol and it was made before 2006, drivers will have to pay NZ$24 per day, or face a $307 fine.
Similar measures have already been introduced in cities such as Birmingham, where its new clean air zone launched in June, is already making a difference.
Birmingham City Council Head of Clean Air Zone, Stephen Arnold, says compliance is improving.
“The rate at which people are replacing and upgrading vehicles, in particular with the business sector is increasing.”
The existing zone in London's CBD has cut pollution, but despite the health benefits many say they can’t afford to replace and upgrade their vehicles.
Motorist Sarah Edwards has twins with autism, she lives on the edge of the zone and says can’t afford to pay every time she needs to drive her children to the hospital.
Many cities across the world will be looking at the changes closely.
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